Home Information Packs

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department has spent on informing  (a) buyers and  (b) sellers of properties about home information packs in each year since their introduction was proposed.

Margaret Beckett: In relation to publicity expenditure on Home Information Packs (HIPs) prior to 7 February 2008, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1309W.
	Since January 2009 the Department has conducted a campaign to meet its duty to inform industry and consumers of forthcoming changes to HIPs and also to promote Government information for those buying or selling homes. The Department's promotional spend has not been split by buyers and sellers and we do not hold information in the format requested. The spend has been broken down by industry and consumers (consumers including both buyers and sellers) and is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Consumers 847,641 
			 Industry 434,552 
			 Total 1,282,193 
		
	
	The Department expects to spend a further £181,834.30 as part of this campaign before the end of the financial year 2009-10.